Apparatus for metallizing electrotype-molds



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

s. P. KNIGHT. APPARATUS FOR METALL'IZING ELEGTROTYPE MOLDS.

No. 403,197; A Patented May 14, 1889.

J" f r A (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

S. P. KNIGHT. APPARATUS FOR METALLIZING ELEGTROTYPE MOLDS.

No. 403,197. PatentedlVIay 14, 1889.

VIIIII/I/II/III/I/l/II/II/I/I/h UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SILAS P. KNIGHT, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR METALLIZING ELECTROTYPE-MOLDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,197, dated May 14, 1889.

Application filed June 5, 1888. Serial No. 276,147. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SILAs P. KNIGHT, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Metallizing Electrotype-lvlolds, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus by which electrotype-molds are metallized for the reception of the electric deposit by treatment with a mixture of plumbago or other metallic powder and water.

The invention consists in the combination, with a tank and a holder therein for the reception of the mold to be treated, of a spray or current wheel by the revolutions of which fluids contained in the tank may be driven in currents or spray against the face of the mold.

It further consists of certain details of c011- struction hereinafter described.

I will proceed to describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, and point out the novel features in claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a longitudinal sectional view on the line as m of Fig. 2 of an apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a transverse vertical sectional View of the same apparatus on the line y y of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a face view of a holder for the reception of the mold. Fig. at represents a face View of a brush-bucket which may be employed interchangeably with or substituted for the digitated blades or buckets represented in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 5 represents an end elevation of the same brush. Fig. 6 is a view corresponding with Fig. 1, illustrating a modification of the invention. Fig. 7 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale, illustrating in section the provision for removably securing the buckets to the arms of the wheel.

resented in Fig. 1, to prevent the deposit in said corners of the solid ingredients of the fluid mixture employed.

B is a holder or frame for the reception of the mold. It may have any form suitable for holding or retaining the mold during the process of metallizing-as, for example, of a flat plate, as represented in. the drawings, having projections gxan'd d for retaining the mold in position/In this example the plate is made adjustable in position by being firmly attached by lugs e to a transverse horizontal rod or axle, 0, one end of which is journaled in a box, f, attached water-tight to the outside, and the other end of which is journaled in and passes through a water-tight bearing, g, in the opposite side of the tank, and is provided at its outer extremity with a handle or' lever, D, by which the axle C may be turned by the operator, moving the holder B in to any desired position.

E is a spray or current wheel, so constructed and placed relatively to the holder B that when revolved the fiuid contained in the tank will be forced into rapid circulation or agitation, and the currents and spray thereby produced be driven against the face of a mold placed in the holder B. The axle F of this wheel traverses the interior of the tank A at right angles to the sides thereof and parallel with the axle O of the holder. To the axle F are secured by set-screws it two hubs, z', with radial arms, to the outer extremities of which arms, in the example shown in Figs. 1 and 2, there are attached digitated buckets of metal, which may be curved at their outer extremities, as represented in Fig. 1. In the example represented in Fig. 6 brush-buckets are substituted for the digitated metal buckets. The digitated buckets G and brush-buckets H are represented as interchangeable, being provided with bolt-holes j, corresponding in position to similar bolt-holes, j, in the extremities of the radial arms, the buckets being attached to the arms by bolts and nuts 7' (see Fig. 7) passing through the bolt-holes j and j.

The brush-buckets H are made of long fine hair as, for example, badger-hair-in the drawings represented as being held between plates of copper or brass k In, riveted together. The holder B must be at such a distance from the spray-wheel that the extremities only of the hairs of the brush-buckets will come in contact with the face of the mold when placed thereon. One end of axle F has its bearing in a box, Z, attached with a water-tight joint to the outside of the tank, but opening inward to receive the end of the axle. The other end of the axle has its bearing in and projects through a stuffi11g-box,m,in the side of the tank. Poweris applied to this projecting end of the axle F,which is represented as provided with a pulley, n, for that purpose.

To use the apparatus for metallizing electrotype-molds, the mold to be treated is placed upon the holder facing the spray or current wheel and the tank is filled to a convenient height-say up to about or a short distance below the level of the axle of said wheel with the metallizing-fluid. The spray or current wheel. being then caused to revolve in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, the fluid is thereby thrown into rapid circulation and agitation, and strong currents and heavy showers of the fluid are driven against the face of the mold, causing the desired metallic film to be deposited upon the surface of the mold. Contact with the hairs of the brush serves to solidify the film and make it uni form. By turning the handle or lever of the holdcr-axle and by shifting the position of the mold on the hold er in accordance with any observed unevenness or inequality in the deposit every part of the mold. maybe equally metallized.

It is not necessary or even desirable that the mold should be entirely immersed in the liquid. I find in practice that the best effect is obtained by throwing or driving the fluid against the surface of the mold.

hat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an apparatus for metallizing electrotype-molds, the combination, with a tank for containing a liquid, and a holder therein for the reception of the mold, of a spray or current wheel arranged within said tank, substantially as described, to dip into the liquid therein for the purpose of taking up said liquid and throwing it in currents or spray against the face of the mold, as herein set forth.

2. In an apparatus for metallizing electrotype-molds, the combination, with a tank and an adjustable holder therein for the reception of the molds, of a spray or current wheel by the revolutions of which fluids contained in the tank may be driven in currents or spray against the face of the mold, substantially as herein described and set forth.

3. In an apparatus for metallizing electrotype-molds, the combination, with a tank and a holder therein for the reception of the mold, of a spray or current wheel having digitated blades or buckets by the revolutions of which fluids contained in the tank may be driven in currents or spray against the face of the mold, substantially as herein described and set forth.

4:. In an apparatus for metallizing electrotype molds, the combination, with a tank and a holder therein for the reception of the mold, of a spray or current wheel having interchangeable digitated and brush buckets by the revolutions of which the face of the molds may be brushed and the fluids contained in the tank may be driven in currents or spray against the face of the mold, all substantially as herein described and set forth.

SILAS 'P. KNIGHT.

\Vi tn esses FREDK. HAYNES, :ITENRY J. MeBmnn. 

